Sounds to me like you were trying to equalize to hard, rupturing some sinus vessels.
Instructions for Equalizing Ears and Sinuses
Middle ear and sinus barotrauma are the most common injuries associated with exposure to increasing and decreasing pressure. Descent in the water adds approximately one-half pound of pressure for each foot of descent and diminishes a similar amount on ascent. According to Boyle's Law, as the pressure increases on descent, the volume of a gas in an enclosed space decreases proportionately. As the pressure decreases on ascent, the volume of the gas increases proportionately. On descent it is imperative that all enclosed air filled spaces be equalized actively or passively. On ascent, the increasing volume usually vents itself naturally.
For equalization to be effective, you should be free of nasal or sinus infections or allergic reactions. The lining of the nose, throat and eustachian tubes should be as normal as possible. If this is true, the following techniques are effective in reducing middle ear and sinus squeeze.
Prior to descent, neutrally buoyant, with no air in your buoyancy compensator, gently inflate your ears with one of the techniques listed below. This gives you a little extra air in the middle ear and sinuses as you descend.
Descend feet first, if possible. This allows air to travel upward into the Eustachian tube and middle ear, a more natural direction. Use a descent line or the anchor line.
Inflate gently every few feet for the first 10 to 15 feet.
Pain is not acceptable. If there is pain, you have descended without adequately equalizing.
If you do not feel your ears opening, stop, try again, perhaps ascending a few feet to diminish the pressure around you. Do not bounce up and down. Try to tilt the blocked ear upward.
If you are unable to equalize, abort the dive. The consequences of descending without equalizing could ruin an entire dive trip or produce permanent damage and hearing loss.
If your doctor agrees, you may use decongestants and nasal sprays prior to diving to reduce swelling in the nasal and ear passages. Take them one to two hours before descent. They should last from eight to 12 hours so you don't need to take a second dose before a repetitive dive. Nasal sprays should be taken thirty minutes before descent and usually last twelve hours. Take caution when using over-the-counter nasal sprays. Repeated use can cause a rebound reaction with worsening of congestion and possible reverse block on ascent.
If at any time during the dive you feel pain, have vertigo (the whirlies) or note sudden hearing loss, abort the dive. If these symptoms persist, do not dive again and consult your physician.
Equalizing Techniques
Passive - requires no effort
Valsalva - increase nasopharynx pressure by holding nose and breathing against a closed glottis (throat)
Toynbee - swallowing with mouth and nose closed - good for ascent!
Frenzel - Valsalva while contracting throat muscles with a closed glottis
Lowry - Valsalva plus Toynbee - holding nose, gently trying to blow air out of nose while swallowing - easiest and best method!
Edmonds - jutting jaw forward plus Valsalva and/or Frenzel (good method)
Miscellaneous - swallowing, wiggling jaws - good for ascent!
From the January 2001 issue of Alert Diver.
